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A Taste of Morocco

5.3.14

I couldn't resist slipping an indulgent food diary in to my Moroccan blog posts - I know I've milked the holiday for all its' worth at this point, but hey, who doesn't like escaping to a sunnier destination from the comfort of their own laptop-side?!

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On our first night in Essaouira, our housekeepers Latifa and Rashid prepared an incredible chicken tagine for us with grapes and peaches, along with fresh bread. Moroccan cuisine seems to often be slow-cooked and is a focal point of the day. The chicken slipped off the bone and tasted absolutely amazing, tender and full of flavour. Oh, and not to forget the bread, that Tanya and I professed our love for at every moment. So. Darn. Good.

We only managed breakfast properly on one day and we opted for a cute, chintzy little cafe where they spoke both French and English AND offered free Wi-Fi. All five of opted for the Moroccan breakfast, with a slice of toasted bread (again - incredible), Moroccan savoury pancakes, butter and fresh marmalade. The food was good but the service was pretty rude, and I never complain about things like that.

Walking past gelato parlours on our daily jaunts out meant that we (specifically Sarah) caved and did a pretty crazy eat-a-thon on our penultimate day. For the record? Nutella ice-cream is every part as yum as it sounds. We're already getting to grips with creating the perfect recipe for UK shores...

Back at the riad, our housekeeper Latifa taught us how to prepare and cook a Moroccan cous-cous with beef and vegetables, with a fresh salad and cream cheese samosas. SO good.

That evening we went to a restaurant in the Old Medina where I opted for a chicken, almond, date and satsuma tagine on a bed of saffron rice.

Seafront restaurants cultivate fresh seafood and fish for lunch. Is it incredibly British to holiday, gawp at the sun - a mystic object/UFO - and watch the waves roll in over glorified fish and chips? YES. Three fillets of Sole Véronique accompanied by some comforting chips - perfect. White fish on the bone is just one of my favourites. And we're still all sad that we missed out on lobster.

Our last night in Morocco saw us take to the rooftops to watch the sun set over the sea and port in a restaurant called Taros. We'd had plenty of recommendations for it so deeming it a bit of a hotspot, we went for drinks and then settled down for a final dose of hearty Moroccan food. Sarah and I both opted for the preserved lamb shank with garlic roasted potatoes. Again, we knew it wouldn't disappoint as the Moroccan palate tends to lean towards lamb as a favoured meat - the flesh slipped off the bone, coupled with crunchy herby, garlic potatoes.

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Editor's Note

Fashion enthusiasts and bad decision-makers, assemble. This blog is best read accompanied by a piping hot beverage and music of your choice. Alternatively, sample my music faves right up there. Any impulse buys made as a result of you reading these pages are not my responsibility ;)